Demolition ahead for Plainville's iconic Falk's Market

Tuesday

Oct 2, 2012 at 12:01 AMOct 2, 2012 at 2:02 AM

For decades, the former Falk’s Market in downtown Plainville was a place where many fond memories were made, from stopping by for a cold soda or a bag full of penny candy, to grabbing the little necessities of day to day life while chatting with the market’s beloved proprietor, Merrill Falk. Soon, the dilapidated landmark — the source of much public consternation in more recent years — will itself become a memory.

Heather McCarron/STAFF WRITER

For decades, the former Falk’s Market in downtown Plainville was a place where many fond memories were made, from stopping by for a cold soda or a bag full of penny candy, to grabbing the little necessities of day to day life while chatting with the market’s beloved proprietor, Merrill Falk.

Soon, the dilapidated landmark — the source of much public consternation in more recent years — will itself become a memory.

Jeff and Julie Kinney, who bought the building at 2 East Bacon St. late last year, tonight (Oct. 1) told the Board of Selectmen of their decision to have the iconic market torn down and replaced with something new — a decision they characterized as nothing short of agonizing.

“This decision was not made lightly. Over the course of the past year, we’ve spoken with dozens of people who have great memories of the building and its proprietor, Merrill Falk. We don’t relish the idea of taking down Falk’s Market, but we feel that it’s the only practical option given the state of the building,” the Kinneys told selectmen at the board’s meeting, with Julie Kinney reading from a prepared statement.

As part of bringing new life to the Falk’s corner and making it a viable business site once again, the Kinneys also revealed they have bought 8 East Bacon St., the lot next door to the market, to provide more parking.

“We recently conducted a pro forma evaluation of the property to see what a business would require to thrive at 2 East Bacon. It became evident early on that for the site to host a sustainable business, it would need more parking capacity,” the Kinneys noted, adding, “having additional parking will give the business that occupies 2 East Bacon a chance to succeed.”

The couple just closed on the neighboring lot today (Oct. 1).

Jeff Kinney, famed as the creator of the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series, said he has lost sleep over the decision to demolish the market, recognizing what an important role Falk’s has played in the community and the lives of its residents “since before we got here.”

But there was no ignoring the opinions of a slew of engineers brought in to assess the building and the potential for saving it.

“The experts we brought in were in 100 percent agreement” Falk’s could not, as a practical matter, be saved, Jeff Kinney said.

The building has many serious issues, from a gaping hole in part of the roof to sagging floors to problems with the foundation.

“As we previously reported, we had the existing Falk’s Market structure analyzed by two engineers in the spring. Their shared opinion was that the building has serious and widespread structural problems, and demolition was recommended,” the Kinneys said. “This summer we had a formal architectural study conducted on the property, and the result was the same. The major components of the building — the floors, ceilings, structural support, foundation, and the entire outer envelope — all need to be replaced.”

“After months of studies and analysis we feel certain that the building, in its current state, cannot reasonably be saved,” they said.

As they move toward the next era for the Falk’s Market corner, the Kinneys are working with development manager Bob Nicodemus, who has 30 years of experience as an architect, and local attorney Dave Simmons, who has worked on many high profile development projects in the area, including Lowes on Rte. 1 and the Plainville Commons shopping plaza.

Simmons also has a special connection to the site — Merrill Falk was his great uncle, and his great grandparents were owners of the building at one point. He said as a relative, Falk’s has a particularly special place in his heart, and he is excited to be part of redeveloping and revitalizing the site.

The Kinneys said their hope “is to create an iconic symbol of the downtown that all Plainville residents can be proud of.”

They recently started working with local architects to draw up plans for a building “that fits downtown Plainville’s character,” they said.

There are several preliminary concepts, but the Kinneys said they want to continue exploring the various options before sharing them with the townspeople.

“We’re always open minded,” said Jeff Kinney, noting they’ve considered everything from a restaurant to a bookstore.

“What it needs is to be a business that works,” he said.

There could be up to three businesses on the first floor of the new building. A second floor would most likely be office space, Kinney said. There has also been some discussion of perhaps going to a third floor, although that would require a variance, he said.

He noted that the guiding inspiration behind redevelopment of the site will be the late Merrill Falk — the man for whom there are as many fond stories as there were penny candies sold to generations of eager Plainville youngsters.

“What we’re trying to do here is we’re trying to actively preserve (Merrill Falk’s) spirit. We’re trying to create a place where people can gather,” Jeff Kinney said.
Simmons said redevelopment of the Falk’s site will generate the first set of applications under the town’s fairly new downtown district regulations, which were adopted at Town Meeting in 2010 and designed to improve the look of the downtown area and avoid blight.

There is at present no definitive time table for the project, he said, but noted there will be “the standard litany of permits” which, once filed, could take four to six months or more to be reviewed.

Later this month, the Kinneys plan to file applications with the Board of Health, the Redevelopment Authority and the Zoning Board.

Jeff Kinney said he does not yet know when demolition might occur, but there are plans to save anything from the market that is salvageable.

“Anything that can be saved and repurposed or reused, will be,” he said.
Selectmen, while regretting the necessity of demolishing Falk’s, offered their support to the Kinneys as they move forward.

“First of all, I’m saddened you have to take that building down; however, I understand that,” said Selectman Robert Fennessy.

He said Falk’s has been “an icon” in the town for 100 years, and he thanked the Kinneys for taking the next step.

“You have to do what you have to do,” said board Chairman Andrea Soucy.
Both she and Fennessy said the condition of Falk’s has probably been the number one topic of complaint they’ve received as selectmen over the past decade, and phone calls about its future have dominated since the Kinneys bought the building.

“Personally, I am so excited about this,” said Soucy, noting that revitalization of the downtown area has been a big issue for her for many years.

She said town officials are grateful to the Kinneys “for what’s going to happen.”

Residents Mary and Robert Griswold, who attended the selectmen’s meeting last night (Oct. 1) to hear what the Kinneys had to say, said they are saddened the market must come down, but not surprised.

“I’m sorry you have to tear it down, but I certainly understand,” said Mary Griswold.

She said it’s obvious the building cannot be kept — “it’s horrible,” she said — and she truly appreciates what the Kinneys are trying to do.

That was already the general consensus among those following the news on Facebook within a few hours of the Kinneys’ announcement Monday — while saddened, commentators on Wicked Local Plainville on Facebook said they think the Kinneys are making the best decision, and that they are grateful to them for taking steps toward improving downtown Plainville.

Asked if they have felt in over their heads at any point since buying the old market, Jeff Kinney after Monday’s meeting said he and his wife “came into this really clear headed.”

“We came in without any prejudices about whether the building could be saved,” he said, going on to add, “I would not say this ballooned past our expectations.”

The Kinneys said they look forward to working with the town “to bring this project to fruition.”

“We’d like to ask everyone in Plainville to support and encourage us in our goal to construct a new building where town residents can come together,” the Kinneys said, “and make memories for generations to come.”

Follow the project on Twitter @2EastBacon, as well as wickedlocalplainville.com and Wicked Local Plainville on Facebook.